Door stabilizing catch



July 11, 1933. I c, STRAND 1,917,740

DOOR STABILI ZING CATCH Filed Jan. 25, 1933 /JJ Inventor 26 7 6,.5'. ff/"and Patented July 11, 1933 CARL EMIIJ STE/AND, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIC DOOR STABILIZING CATCH Application filed January 25, 1933. Serial No, 653,487..

My invention relates generally to'dcvices for maintaining a door properly aligned, and prevented from rattling, when closed, and particularly to a door catch which will maintain a door when closed, properly aligned and held against rattling, even though the door may not be accurately hung and may be subject to rattling when in the open position.

it is an important object of my invention to provide a device of the character described above which will take from the door hinges and lock thereon a considerable amount of the strain which is ordinarily imposed totally thereon by reason of motion of the door or of the door frame in which the door is hung, especially in a door construction of a vehicle.

It is also an important object of my in vention to provide a simplified, easily manufactured and installed device of the character described which can be" made with a few stamping operations by forming only three parts.

Other obj ects'a'nd advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawing, wherein for purposes of illustration I have'shown a preferred embodiment of my invention. y

In the drawing V Figure 1 is an elevational view of the device of the invention showing the same installed in the operative position,- the door being closed. I

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figare I showing the cover member removed.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows Figure 4 is an end elevational view taken from the" right, of the door element.-

Figure 5 is an end elevational view taken from the left of the body or frame element Referring in detail tothe drawing, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the same, the numeral 5 refers generally to the door element mountable orr'the door" 6, and the numeral 7 refers generally to the body or frame element mounted on the body 8.

The door element 5 comprises a flat plate 8 tubular portion 19 in a stamping operation. An embossed portion 11 bounds the inner V edge of the semi-tubularportion and forms with the serni-tubular portion 19 on p enclosure for a portion of the springelerent generally des gnated 12 Suitable spaced openings 13 are made in the plate 8 for accommodating screws or other attaching means for attaching the plate to the door 6.

Held'in the chamber or semi-tubular portion 10 by cooperation of the raised portion 11 is the double curved portion 1 1 of'thc spring element 12. Legs 15, 16' lead outwardly from the ends of the portion 10 and then converge gradually toward each other to the points 17 18- whence they continue into substantially semi-circular portions 19, 20 on whose ends are diver-gently curved port-ions 21, 22 which terminate in outwardly formed closed convolutions 23, The

formations of the legs 15, 16 described are substantially essential to their proper operation and cooperation with the frame element 7 as will be evident.

The frame element 7 comprises a plate 25 whichhas gently and uniformly curved ends 26, 27. An outwardly projecting wall 28 on oneside of the plate bound the vertical edge thereof at one side and also the curved end portions 26,27. Leading'across-the plate 25 from the vertical portion of the wall 28 and over the opposite edge ofthe plate'is a heart shaped formation generally designated 29,- the overhanging portion 30 of which is double curved in'conformity to the j double curving of the opening 9 in the door element 5. Opposed similar wall portions 31,

52 lead in the opposite direction across the plate 25 from the ends of the double curved portion 30 and join the wall 28 at an intermediatepoint thereof as shown in Figure 2. Suitable openings 33- are' distributed in the plate 25 for properly accommodating screws or other attaching means for. securing the body element to the body 8.

If desired a cover generally designated as for the body element 7 may be provided which has substantially the plan of the body memher and has an outer wall 35' for overhang ing' and side by side relationship with the wall 28. The cover is provided with a countersunk opening 36 for securinga screw for holding the cover on the body element, the

so that a spreading of the spring takes place which results in an enforced separation of the portions 17, 18 which follow the portions 19, 20 into engagement with the heartshaped element 29. As the legs of the spring element progress into engagement with the body member 7, the closed convolutions 24 are brought within and against the curved end walls 26, 27. As they move toward the far side of the plate 25, the closed convolutions 23 are compressed toward each other, causing a stress and bending of the spring portions 19, 20 which is transmitted to the portions 17, 18 and causes the portions 17, 18 to move toward each other, resisted by the curved side walls 31, 32 of the heart-formation 29. This stress upon the portions 17 18 is a maximum as the spring element is engaged progressively with the door element 7 and reaches the fully engaged position wherein the portions 17, 18 engage port-ions of the side walls 31, 32 ofthe heart-formation 29 at points which are considerably closer together than the ends of the wall portions 31, 32 near the double curved formation 30.

Fully engaged, the parts prevent up and down relative movement of the door and body, as well as sidewise movement, and also relative horizontal movement.

The portions 17 and 24 are supported by the body element in such away that they relieve the door hinges of considerable of the weight thereon, and hold the door in proper horizontal alignment with the body.

The aperture furnished by the divergent curved formations 19, 20 of the spring element 12 issufiiciently wide to permit perfect engagement with the heart-formation 29 even though thedoor be out of alignment either depressed or elevated above a mean position. As soon as the engagement of the spring 12 with the body element takes place, the door is lifted and then held in the mean aligned position. 7

'As shown in the drawing, the spring 12 is preferably of flat material, and has a central hump 33 which is conformed'to seat in the double curved portion 9 whereby it is prevented from shifting longitudinally.

This arrangement eliminates the necessity for welding the spring in place, which operation would destroy the temper of the spring element 12.

The portions 17, 19, 21 and 18, 20, 22 of the legs of the spring may act as catches for the bolt or bolts of a suitably arranged door lock.

It is believed to be obvious that the device of the invention functions as a door stabilizer and anti-rattler, as a door catch, and as a door aligner, and comprises only three necessary parts, which can be produced and assembled very cheaply on a quantity production basis, and are very easily installed and operated.

Though I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in material and structure and arrangement of parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

hat is claimed is 1. A catch of the class described comprising a support, a substantially U-shapcd spring having its bight connected with the support, with its limbs convergently arranged, each limb being bent outwardly into U-shape, a keeper member having a part thereon of substantially wedge shape with its base toward the spring supporting member,

with its sides engaged by the limbs of the spring and means on the keeper member for engaging the extremities of the U-shaped parts of the limbs for placing said U-shaped parts under tension whereby the portions of the limbs which engage the wedge member are pressed against the sides of said wedge member.

2. A catch of the class described comprising a supporting plate, a substantially U- shaped spring having its bi ght connected with the plate, with its limbs convergently arranged and said limbs being bent outwardly to provide U-shaped extensions, reversely arranged to the U-shaped spring, the extremities of said U-shaped extensions being rolled outwardly, a keeper casing having a substantially heart-shaped part therein, the base of which is located adjacent the supporting plate and the sides of which are engaged by the convergent limbs of the U-shaped spring, said keeper casing having end parts sloping outwardly to that face of the casing which receives the spring, said sloping ends engaging the rolled extremities and exerting pressure on the U-shaped extensions of the spring for forcing portions of the converging limbs of the spring against the sides of the heartshaped part.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CARL EMIL STRAND. 

